Turns out, it wasn't enough for most City Council members, who have voted to bump their paychecks even higher -- to $15,000 each -- in the fiscal year that starts July 1.

"The emergency manager took the pay from us -- not the people," said Councilman Wantwaz Davis, who pushed for the increase. "It's not a pay increase. It's a form of (pay) restoration."

What chance this and other recommendations from council have for being adopted as a part of the new budget from Earley isn't clear yet.

Earley asked for the council's input throughout budget hearings this month and suggested that he was willing to change his proposal to accommodate at least some of its wishes -- provided the $55-million general fund spending plan remained balanced.

The emergency manager has said the City Council should hold a public hearing to receive citizen input on the budget, and the council and the mayor should submit comments and recommendation pertaining to the budget to Earley before it's adopted in early June.

Earley's own budget proposal says higher salaries are justified for elected officials as they start to take on more responsibilities in advance of the end of state financial control in Flint.

He estimated council members spent more than 20 hours alone reviewing this year's proposed budget in hearings this month and proposed to increase the annual salary of each council member from $7,000 to $10,500.

The council recommendation would increase that by an additional $5,000 each.

That's too much for Councilmen Braynt Nolden and Johsua Freeman, who oppose the raises.

"With our money situation, I don't think it's right for the council to take a pay increase," Nolden said.

Davis, who does not work in addition to his council job, called the current pay -- about $100 a week -- "cruel and disrespectful."

"I think City Council is held accountable (by the people)," he said. "We should be compensated for that."

In addition to the council raises, Earley's budget proposal would bump the salary of Mayor Dayne Walling by $27,500 -- from $55,000 to $82,500.

Walling suggested earlier this month that the city's Local Officials Compensation Commission review local officials salaries and make recommendations on any changes.